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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Heartbreaking narration of a man trying to survive everyday life after having lived the most horrendous childhood and teenage years in which he was never a child.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Child abuse
Child abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, self harm, suicide attempts
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Beautiful examination of how trauma affects peoples lives.
The best book ever. The worst book ever.
I'm not sure if I can forgive Yanagihara for giving this novel to the world, or if I should thank her.
A Little Life was beautifully written—the structure, the prose, the characters, all of it.
This novel managed to anger me (i.e., topics, characters, character interactions, etc.), pierce my heart, make me feel sick, make me laugh, and yet, keep me engaged.
I *do not* recommend this book to anyone who is sensitive to scenes and discussions pertaining to trauma, pain/descriptions of physical injury, disability, assault, and discussions on un-aliving one's self.
I *do* recommend it to those who are comfortable (enough) with the aforementioned and are open to learning about them. Personally, though a work of fiction, I found this book to be educational in those departments on an abstract level.
Why isn't this a five-star read? Not because of the writing style or gaps... but because of the controversy behind A Little Life (in recent years) and my cognizance and agreement with some of the issues brought to light.
I'm not sure if I can forgive Yanagihara for giving this novel to the world, or if I should thank her.
A Little Life was beautifully written—the structure, the prose, the characters, all of it.
This novel managed to anger me (i.e., topics, characters, character interactions, etc.), pierce my heart, make me feel sick, make me laugh, and yet, keep me engaged.
I *do not* recommend this book to anyone who is sensitive to scenes and discussions pertaining to trauma, pain/descriptions of physical injury, disability, assault, and discussions on un-aliving one's self.
I *do* recommend it to those who are comfortable (enough) with the aforementioned and are open to learning about them. Personally, though a work of fiction, I found this book to be educational in those departments on an abstract level.
Why isn't this a five-star read? Not because of the writing style or gaps... but because of the controversy behind A Little Life (in recent years) and my cognizance and agreement with some of the issues brought to light.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow. Just: wow.